Just a few days after a man was spotted trying to pose his child with an angry sea lion at La Jolla, California, a group of over a dozen tourists have been filmed mobbing a whole colony of the animals for photos. In the resulting video (which you can watch below) the sea lions are clearly distressed. Most head towards the sea, while one tried to chase the photographers away.
The latest video was shared this week via Instagram account TouronsOfNationalParks, which calls out bad behavior at sites of natural beauty around the world, all too often involving wildlife. According to mrs_monty103, who spotted the crowd piling onto the beach, there was no excuse for their behavior: "there are signs warning people to keep their distance."
In California, sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with NOAA Fisheries overseeing their conservation.
"As humans interact more with seals and sea lions, they risk disturbing or injuring these animals," warns the government authority, which outlines rules for watching the animals safely and responsibly.
"Animals may become stressed and repeated interruptions by you and others may be harmful to their health or cause abandonment. Bring your binoculars and enjoy them from a safe viewing distance to protect their health and yours."
Sea lions also have a nasty bite, and like any other wild animal, they can lash out if they or their young are threatened. NOAA Fisheries specifically warns holidaymakers against trying to take selfies with the animals for this reason.
"They have sharp teeth, sharp claws, and are potentially dangerous and very capable of inflicting bodily harm. If they feel threatened, or stressed, they will react, and you do not want to be in their way if they do," say officials. "Obey federal law and resist the desire to get too close."
- The best binoculars: enjoy watching wildlife from a safe distance
